Nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of entrepreneurs will work between Christmas and the New Year with only 10 per cent using the holidays to relax.

The research from business software provider Sage UK surveyed 1,000 owners of businesses with less than £5 million of sales. The majority of those working over Christmas will use the time to get on top of finances and payroll (62 per cent). 

Whilst 5 per cent will work during Christmas Day, 7 per cent will catch up on their business management duties on Boxing Day. One of the biggest reasons entrepreneurs gave for working is being able to focus without distractions.

Chris Stonehouse, head of Sage Online says: ‘Working over Christmas can prove quite challenging if you hit a problem and have no one to turn to because the support team are tucking into turkey.

‘Entrepreneurs and small business owners don’t have the luxury of time, even at Christmas.’

Celia Donne, regional director of office solutions company Regus, says: ‘Our own company research shows 70 per cent of workers supposedly on holiday will still check work emails regularly on their mobiles.

‘Too many people are not taking full advantage of the break and, if they are also travelling into the office to work, are unnecessarily squandering precious time with their loved ones.’